Apple · MacBook Pro
MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008)
An aluminium 15-inch MacBook Pro with a glass Multi-Touch trackpad and switchable NVIDIA graphics.
Model history · 13 models, 2001–2008
- 2001PowerBook G4 (Original 2001)Compare
- 2001PowerBook G4 (Gigabit Ethernet)Compare
- 2002PowerBook G4 (DVI)Compare
- 2002PowerBook G4 (1GHz/867MHz)Compare
- 2003PowerBook G4 (15-inch FW800)Compare
- 2004PowerBook G4 (15-inch, 1.5/1.33GHz)Compare
- 2005PowerBook G4 (15-inch, 1.67/1.5GHz)Compare
- 2005PowerBook G4 (15-inch, Double-Layer SD)Compare
- 2006MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2006)Compare
- 2006MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2006)Compare
- 2007MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2007)Compare
- 2008MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2008)Compare
- 2008MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008)
- Size
- 15.4″
- Display
- –
- Processor
- Intel Core 2
- Memory
- 2 GB – 4 GB
- Weight
- 2.49 kg
- Battery
- –
What reviewers say
Reviewers praised the unibody construction, larger trackpad and switchable graphics, but found the CPU improvement modest. The glossy-only display and need for display adapters drew criticism, and the faster GPU reduced battery life; Ars Technica also reported poor trackpad behaviour under Windows.
From arstechnica.com, arstechnica.com and slashgear.com
Specifications
Report a wrong or missing specDisplay
- Screen size
- 15.4″
- Resolution
- 1440 × 900
- Touchscreen
- No
- Display type
- Glossy LED-backlit widescreen LCD with millions of colours. Exact panel technology and refresh rate unpublished in the maker sources read.
Performance
- Processor
- Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz (MacBook Pro Late 2008), Intel Core 2 Duo 2.53 GHz (MacBook Pro Late 2008) or Intel Core 2 Duo 2.8 GHz (MacBook Pro Late 2008)
- CPU cores
- 2
- Graphics
- NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT (256 MB GDDR3) + GeForce 9400M or NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT (512 MB GDDR3) + GeForce 9400M
- Memory
- 2 GB or 4 GB
- Storage
- 128 GB to 320 GB
- CPU
- Dual-core Intel Core 2 Duo at 2.4 GHz with 3 MB shared L2 cache or 2.53 GHz with 6 MB; 2.8 GHz with 6 MB is configurable only from the upper base, as confirmed by Ars Technica and SlashGear. 1066 MHz frontside bus; clock records avoid unverified Intel SKU assumptions.
- GPU
- NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT (256 MB GDDR3) + GeForce 9400M; NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT (512 MB GDDR3) + GeForce 9400M. GPU memory varies with processor configuration. The integrated GeForce 9400M and discrete GeForce 9600M GT are selectable alternatives; changing GPU requires logout, as confirmed by Ars Technica and SlashGear.
- Memory type
- 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM in two SO-DIMM slots, up to 4 GB. Lower base starts with 2 GB; higher has 4 GB.
- Storage type
- Lower base has a 250 GB and higher a 320 GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA drive. Maker configurable options include 250 GB or 320 GB 7200-rpm drives, or a 128 GB SSD. All 128 GB rows are SSD configurations; higher-base 250 GB rows represent the faster configurable hard drive. 8× SuperDrive with double-layer DVD writing.
Battery and size
- Weight
- 2.49 kg
- Battery life detail
- Removable lithium-polymer battery; capacity and battery-life hours omitted because the surviving maker sources read do not publish them. Apple lists 5.5 lb; the main 2.49 kg reference weight is explicitly published by Ars Technica. Ars lists enclosure dimensions 14.35 × 9.82 × 0.95 inches; metric dimensions omitted.
- Charger
- 85 W MagSafe Power Adapter
- Materials
- Aluminium unibody enclosure and glass trackpad
- Colours
- Silver
Connections
- Ports
- 2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack, MagSafe
- Wi-Fi
- AirPort Extreme 802.11n; compatible with 802.11a/b/g
- Bluetooth
- 2.1 + EDR
- Webcam
- Built-in iSight camera
- Operating system
- macOS
- Port detail
- 2 USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 800, Gigabit Ethernet, MagSafe, Mini DisplayPort, ExpressCard/34, separate combined optical digital audio input/line input and combined optical digital audio output/headphone output, and Kensington lock slot. Display adapters sold separately.
- External displays
- Mini DisplayPort supports an external display up to 30 inches; separate DVI, VGA or dual-link DVI adapters required. A numeric external resolution is omitted because it is not stated in the surviving maker sources read.
- Keyboard
- Full-size backlit keyboard with ambient light sensors, 78 US or 79 ISO keys, 12 function keys and four arrow keys
- Trackpad
- Glass Multi-Touch trackpad with integrated button; scrolling, pinch, rotate and three-finger/four-finger swipes.
- Speakers
- Built-in stereo speakers
- Microphones
- Built-in microphone above the Escape key
- In the box
- MacBook Pro, removable battery, 85 W MagSafe Power Adapter with AC wall plug and power cord, install/restore DVDs and documentation. Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard and iLife ’08; Apple Remote and display adapters sold separately. The former SP499 specification URL is no longer available; maker launch notice and exact user guide supply core facts.
Configurations
| Processor | Memory | Storage | Graphics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz (MacBook Pro Late 2008) | 2 GB | 128 GB | NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT (256 MB GDDR3) + GeForce 9400M |
| Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz (MacBook Pro Late 2008) | 2 GB | 250 GB | NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT (256 MB GDDR3) + GeForce 9400M |
| Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz (MacBook Pro Late 2008) | 2 GB | 320 GB | NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT (256 MB GDDR3) + GeForce 9400M |
| Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz (MacBook Pro Late 2008) | 4 GB | 128 GB | NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT (256 MB GDDR3) + GeForce 9400M |
| Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz (MacBook Pro Late 2008) | 4 GB | 250 GB | NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT (256 MB GDDR3) + GeForce 9400M |
| Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz (MacBook Pro Late 2008) | 4 GB | 320 GB | NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT (256 MB GDDR3) + GeForce 9400M |
| Intel Core 2 Duo 2.53 GHz (MacBook Pro Late 2008) | 4 GB | 128 GB | NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT (512 MB GDDR3) + GeForce 9400M |
| Intel Core 2 Duo 2.53 GHz (MacBook Pro Late 2008) | 4 GB | 250 GB | NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT (512 MB GDDR3) + GeForce 9400M |
| Intel Core 2 Duo 2.53 GHz (MacBook Pro Late 2008) | 4 GB | 320 GB | NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT (512 MB GDDR3) + GeForce 9400M |
| Intel Core 2 Duo 2.8 GHz (MacBook Pro Late 2008) | 4 GB | 128 GB | NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT (512 MB GDDR3) + GeForce 9400M |
| Intel Core 2 Duo 2.8 GHz (MacBook Pro Late 2008) | 4 GB | 250 GB | NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT (512 MB GDDR3) + GeForce 9400M |
| Intel Core 2 Duo 2.8 GHz (MacBook Pro Late 2008) | 4 GB | 320 GB | NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT (512 MB GDDR3) + GeForce 9400M |
Pros and cons
Pros
- Backlit keyboard and built-in optical drive
- Replaceable memory and removable battery
- Switchable integrated and discrete graphics
Cons
- Glossy display with no matte option
- 2 USB 2.0 ports
- Display adapters sold separately
Closest rivals
Model | Size | Display | Processor | Memory | Weight | Battery | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15.4″ | – | Intel Core 2 | 2 GB – 4 GB | – | – | Feb 2008 | |
| 15.4″ | – | Intel Core 2 | 1 GB – 3 GB | – | 5 h | Oct 2006 | |
| 15.4″ | TN LCD | Intel Core 2 | 4 GB – 8 GB | 2.49 kg | 7 h | Jun 2009 |
Previous model: MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2008). Newer model: MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009).
Sources
- apple.com/uk/newsroom/2008/10/14New-MacBook-Family-Redefines-Notebook-Design
- cdsassets.apple.com/live/6GJYWVAV/user/ma657_macbook_pro_15inch_late2008.pdf
- arstechnica.com/gadgets/2008/10/2008-macbookpro-review
- arstechnica.com/gadgets/2008/10/2008-macbookpro-review-2
- slashgear.com/macbook-pro-review-late-2008-model-2019617
Photo: cdsassets.apple.com
